Type 2 Carbohydrate intolerance?

[CherryAA]

Hi all, just registered after seeing some posts from googling the heading.

I was diagnosed T2 about 8 years ago after an OGT, with symptoms ranging from numbness in hands and feet and constant urination. As the years have gone by, my symptoms worsened with fatigue, elbow and knee joint pain and brain fog headache which over the last few months, became debilitating and was beginning to affect work and home life.

I then read an article on the above and decided to try the two week test and remove almost all carbohydrates from my diet. Within 48 hours, symptoms began to subside, morning brain fog headache was the first thing that disappeared, then joint pain diminished and energy levels rose.

I returned to my GP as I was concerned with the amount of fat I was eating and what would happen to my cholesterol. My GP was astonished and bemused, even my blood pressure was lower than usual.

So what's going on? Do I have diabetes or is it just that my body doesn't tolerate carbs very well? To be honest, the last 3 weeks have made me feel a whole lot better and I will continue to limit my card intake to more or less go into ketosis.

To add to this, my family had an India take away at the weekend and after having some mint sauce for the starters, I've gone backwards and then realised that sugar is used to sweeten!

Back to protein and fat and hoping to feel good again soon.

Would love to hear if anyone else has had/tried this?

Thanks, and kind regards.

Daren

have you actually been under a doctor during this time? have you had any Hba1C tests? or any advice from your doctor at all?
In the end it probably doesn't matter because the chances are changing the diet will be enough to take you back to health anyway

 

[Kristin251]

Why testing the waters with things you know or will most likely spike you? Sweet potato tonight?

 

[darenu]

have you actually been under a doctor during this time? have you had any Hba1C tests? or any advice from your doctor at all?
In the end it probably doesn't matter because the chances are changing the diet will be enough to take you back to health anyway

Hba1C test always under 7 for the last 8 years, whether I ate well or bad. Kept expressing concerns over joint pain, fatigue, brain fog... and was once told it may be ME! Got Tramadols for pain, blood pressure tablets, statins and acid blockers.

Yes, I'm just happy there's a light at the end of the tunnel

 

[CherryAA]

Hba1C test always under 7 for the last 8 years, whether I ate well or bad. Kept expressing concerns over joint pain, fatigue, brain fog... and was once told it may be ME! Got Tramadols for pain, blood pressure tablets, statins and acid blockers.

Yes, I'm just happy there's a light at the end of the tunnel

well Hba1C at 7 is pretty firmly in the diabetes range, so I'm not surprised that you were feeling ill! It sounds like your doctor might be suffering from brain fog himself - maybe switching to someone actually awake might help

 

[Lamont D]

Hi, I've only just noticed this thread.
As someone who has a form of intolerance to most foods including most carbs.
I have a grain, rice, potatoes, lactose, fructose, glucose, sucrose intolerance!
In other words, I can only eat something that does not spike my blood glucose levels.

It seems to me that you are searching for the right balance between carbs, protein, fats and how intolerant you are to carbs.
You can only do this by testing and following the advice about how to use your glucometer and more importantly a food diary.
This diary will give you the information over time about how your body copes with the food you eat to your tastes and likes and dislikes.
It is so important to find that balance, even then adjust as your body reacts to how your levels, insulin resistance and your health, wether it improves or not.
The symptoms you are describing seem to me to be your blood glucose levels going up and down, you are not in control. This is not recommended.
If you are serious about tackling your condition, then you need that control.
And you need to greatly reduce the carbs, the amount you eat probably, do more exercise, walking a little bit more and read more about getting your control sorted.
It is possible, just have a read of the success stories forum.

Best wishes

 

[CherryAA]

Hi, I've only just noticed this thread.
As someone who has a form of intolerance to most foods including most carbs.
I have a grain, rice, potatoes, lactose, fructose, glucose, sucrose intolerance!
In other words, I can only eat something that does not spike my blood glucose levels.

It seems to me that you are searching for the right balance between carbs, protein, fats and how intolerant you are to carbs.
You can only do this by testing and following the advice about how to use your glucometer and more importantly a food diary.
This diary will give you the information over time about how your body copes with the food you eat to your tastes and likes and dislikes.
It is so important to find that balance, even then adjust as your body reacts to how your levels, insulin resistance and your health, wether it improves or not.
The symptoms you are describing seem to me to be your blood glucose levels going up and down, you are not in control. This is not recommended.
If you are serious about tackling your condition, then you need that control.
And you need to greatly reduce the carbs, the amount you eat probably, do more exercise, walking a little bit more and read more about getting your control sorted.
It is possible, just have a read of the success stories forum.

Best wishes

Have you come across Elaine Gottschall "Breaking the Vicious Cycle " about the SPECIFIC CARBOHYDRATE DIET?
it seems to be directed towards all sorts of problems with intestinal health.

 

[darenu]

Hi, I've only just noticed this thread.
As someone who has a form of intolerance to most foods including most carbs.
I have a grain, rice, potatoes, lactose, fructose, glucose, sucrose intolerance!
In other words, I can only eat something that does not spike my blood glucose levels.

It seems to me that you are searching for the right balance between carbs, protein, fats and how intolerant you are to carbs.
You can only do this by testing and following the advice about how to use your glucometer and more importantly a food diary.
This diary will give you the information over time about how your body copes with the food you eat to your tastes and likes and dislikes.
It is so important to find that balance, even then adjust as your body reacts to how your levels, insulin resistance and your health, wether it improves or not.
The symptoms you are describing seem to me to be your blood glucose levels going up and down, you are not in control. This is not recommended.
If you are serious about tackling your condition, then you need that control.
And you need to greatly reduce the carbs, the amount you eat probably, do more exercise, walking a little bit more and read more about getting your control sorted.
It is possible, just have a read of the success stories forum.

Best wishes

Hi Lamont D,

Yes, I have some reading to do.

Thanks all

 

[Lamont D]

Have you come across Elaine Gottschall "Breaking the Vicious Cycle " about the SPECIFIC CARBOHYDRATE DIET?
it seems to be directed towards all sorts of problems with intestinal health.

No, I haven't!
But, then, as far as I am concerned, carbs are carbs, the distinction is very small, wether by itself or in combination with other foods.
They are not good for me at all particularly starchy vegetables, any grain et al.

What makes me a bit weird(er) than some other endocrine or metabolic conditions, is the excess insulin created by my secondary insulin response after eating a very small amount of carbs, again wether in combination or not.

To me, carbs are like some poisons, I could eat a bite of a sandwich or a bite of potato or a spoonful of honey, the same result! Too much and it will make me ill and effect my health.

This is why I have had a lot of battles with my health practitioners, until diagnosis, and my specialist endocrinologist introduced me to low carb diet, but, even he wishes I could eat carbs with every meal!

 

[CherryAA]

No, I haven't!
But, then, as far as I am concerned, carbs are carbs, the distinction is very small, wether by itself or in combination with other foods.
They are not good for me at all particularly starchy vegetables, any grain et al.

What makes me a bit weird(er) than some other endocrine or metabolic conditions, is the excess insulin created by my secondary insulin response after eating a very small amount of carbs, again wether in combination or not.

To me, carbs are like some poisons, I could eat a bite of a sandwich or a bite of potato or a spoonful of honey, the same result! Too much and it will make me ill and effect my health.

This is why I have had a lot of battles with my health practitioners, until diagnosis, and my specialist endocrinologist introduced me to low carb diet, but, even he wishes I could eat carbs with every meal!

in truth it isn't an awful lot different from LCHF. I was specifically interested in looking at it because of a freind of mine who appears t have both diabetes and bowel problems where LCHF is improving blood sugars but not constipation who has just been diagnosed as gluten intolerant as well. so I wanted to check up if there was anything relevant to that situation - it rfeers to crohns disease autism and coeliac disease
as well

 

[Kristin251]

The only foods I NEVER have an intolerance to is protein and fat. Of course I can't over eat them either.

 

[badcat]

I don't enjoy plain water either, @darenu , but drink a lot of Robinson's sugar-free squash. They've got a new product, too, called 'Squash'd', which is very very very concentrated - I keep a tiny bottle of it in my bag so I can 'pimp' a glass of plain water when I'm not at home or work.

It has no effect on my blood sugar levels when diluted according to the instructions.

My favourite flavour is Summer Fruits - referred to by my husband as 'a glass of pink'!

Another vote for squashed . My favourite is the citrus one in sparkly water. My sugars flatline with it

 

[Lamont D]

in truth it isn't an awful lot different from LCHF. I was specifically interested in looking at it because of a freind of mine who appears t have both diabetes and bowel problems where LCHF is improving blood sugars but not constipation who has just been diagnosed as gluten intolerant as well. so I wanted to check up if there was anything relevant to that situation - it rfeers to crohns disease autism and coeliac disease
as well

I was having a thread conversation with @Brunneria about gluten, a.d how it has improved her diet to stay away from the gluten. Unfortunately, most foods that are gluten free have potato starch amongst other ingredients that are not conducive to how my body works.
I have read quite a bit about how different changes to diet and the reduction of carbohydrates to anybody's diet will improve their health within a few weeks.
It never cures the condition but helps cope with the symptoms.

 

[kokhongw]

So what's going on? Do I have diabetes or is it just that my body doesn't tolerate carbs very well? To be honest, the last 3 weeks have made me feel a whole lot better and I will continue to limit my card intake to more or less go into ketosis.

Essentially we have become highly insulin resistant. and glucose impaired.

But the term insulin resistant has often been misleading, because it is followed by a description that our insulin has been ineffective or insufficient. So the prevailing approach is to try to use even more insulin...

The reality is that our cells stops responding to the same amount of insulin and that forces our pancreas to release 2 to 3 times MORE insulin than normal for every "normal" (75g carbs) meals that we have. The excessive insulin response and chronically high circulating insulin basically keeps us from utilizing the fats in our cells.

Having a carbs lite fats friendly approach means we effectively lower both our glucose and insulin levels, thereby creating the condition favorable to fats utilization. Switching to ketones instead of glucose as our primary fuel source.

 

[Dutchman]

Hi all, just registered after seeing some posts from googling the heading.

I was diagnosed T2 about 8 years ago after an OGT, with symptoms ranging from numbness in hands and feet and constant urination. As the years have gone by, my symptoms worsened with fatigue, elbow and knee joint pain and brain fog headache which over the last few months, became debilitating and was beginning to affect work and home life.

I then read an article on the above and decided to try the two week test and remove almost all carbohydrates from my diet. Within 48 hours, symptoms began to subside, morning brain fog headache was the first thing that disappeared, then joint pain diminished and energy levels rose.

I returned to my GP as I was concerned with the amount of fat I was eating and what would happen to my cholesterol. My GP was astonished and bemused, even my blood pressure was lower than usual.

So what's going on? Do I have diabetes or is it just that my body doesn't tolerate carbs very well? To be honest, the last 3 weeks have made me feel a whole lot better and I will continue to limit my card intake to more or less go into ketosis.

To add to this, my family had an India take away at the weekend and after having some mint sauce for the starters, I've gone backwards and then realised that sugar is used to sweeten!

Back to protein and fat and hoping to feel good again soon.

Would love to hear if anyone else has had/tried this?

Thanks, and kind regards.

Daren

A while back I went on the Atkins diet and found the same results I still do it but I'm at the stage where I now have 25 grams of carbs .....reasonable blood control so I'm happy.........

 

[darenu]

Essentially we have become highly insulin resistant. and glucose impaired.

But the term insulin resistant has often been misleading, because it is followed by a description that our insulin has been ineffective or insufficient. So the prevailing approach is to try to use even more insulin...

The reality is that our cells stops responding to the same amount of insulin and that forces our pancreas to release 2 to 3 times MORE insulin than normal for every "normal" (75g carbs) meals that we have. The excessive insulin response and chronically high circulating insulin basically keeps us from utilizing the fats in our cells.

Having a carbs lite fats friendly approach means we effectively lower both our glucose and insulin levels, thereby creating the condition favorable to fats utilization. Switching to ketones instead of glucose as our primary fuel source.

I read a piece on reactive hypoglycaemia where the lady recalled how it all started for her, 2-3 hours after breakfast would feel shaky, clammy and disoriented. She explained as you do, that her immune system was constantly trying to get rid of the excess insulin, flushing it out through the liver. The immune system then didn't have the capacity to repair the inflammation going on in her body, hence joint pain, fatigue and brain fog.

 

[darenu]

Why testing the waters with things you know or will most likely spike you? Sweet potato tonight?

I have been on the LCHF diet for 3 weeks now and the results have been very good. Now I can see how each food affects by BG I can look to get some sort of balance. I also live with my 19 year old son and have to balance meals for both of us. We had steak, with melted Stilton, salad and sweet potato wedges (I only had 2 wedges). BG after 2 hours was 6.9, so not that bad.

I intend to have porridge for breakfast tomorrow, rolled oats version with a sprinkle of Cinnamon. Would hate to think I can't have porridge!

Just my luck that within 4-5 days of LCHF my energy levels were so much better, I did so much cleaning that I gave myself a bad back!

 

[CherryAA]

Oops , but well done on the diet !

 

[darenu]

Another vote for squashed . My favourite is the citrus one in sparkly water. My sugars flatline with it

Couldn't find it my smaller Tesco store, will have to check the larger store, where I get my frozen Avocado halves for smoothies.

I had been using the Tesco double strength, but gave this up due to added sweeteners and have just been glugging water

 

[kokhongw]

I read a piece on reactive hypoglycaemia where the lady recalled how it all started for her, 2-3 hours after breakfast would feel shaky, clammy and disoriented. She explained as you do, that her immune system was constantly trying to get rid of the excess insulin, flushing it out through the liver. The immune system then didn't have the capacity to repair the inflammation going on in her body, hence joint pain, fatigue and brain fog.

Yes that is actually quite a common experience for many of us. And it took literally decades before we connected the dots...and finally understood what had happened throughout all those years...

 

[badcat]

Couldn't find it my smaller Tesco store, will have to check the larger store, where I get my frozen Avocado halves for smoothies.

I had been using the Tesco double strength, but gave this up due to added sweeteners and have just been glugging water

I get them from Amazon - cheaper than the supermarkets except when they have offers on
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robinsons-Squashd-Citrus-Concentrate-Pack/dp/B01GE2RRUS